Phonics & Math

The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool translates new research and theory from the field of early childhood education into a practical, easy-to-understand approach to working with children and their families. It is a comprehensive curriculum that includes a framework for decision making along with a focus on interest areas. 

—Teaching strategies 2006

Research conducted over the past 75 years has concluded that childhood is a separate and distinct stage of life. In order to teach appropriately to this stage, we must use developmentally appropriate practices which teach a child in a way that matches the way he or she is developing and learning. Creative Curriculum helps us understand and implement these practices. 

A strong relationship between parents and teachers is encouraged through Creative Curriculum, ensuring a positive connection between home and school for each student. Getting to know each family and the commitment parents have put into the healthy development of their child will allow our teachers to customize their teaching approach. An open line of communication will be developed so that families always feel involved and respected.

The preschool years are a very special time in the life of young children. It is important to understand the most significant areas of development: 

Social and Emotional Development is important at this age because children are learning about the socialization process.  They begin to learn values and behaviors that will be accepted by society and their overall environment will help them become competent and confident people.

Physical Development is often overlooked in a preschool curriculum. As children work to master increasingly sophisticated tasks, they begin to feel personal responsibility for their own needs. As they become more confident with their physical abilities, they will be more willing to try new and more challenging tasks.

Cognitive Development is based on a child’s ability to use his mind and learn how it works. Creative Curriculum focuses on learning and problem solving, and your child will begin to use information to solve problems on his own. A better understanding of a child’s world will be realized as he begins to think logically by recognizing patterns and comparing information. Your child’s imagination will expand as he begins to think symbolically, which is very important for personal development and future cognitive growth.

Language Development is one of the most active areas for growth in preschool children. When children are placed in a learning environment among peers, their language takes on a new importance. They must learn how to communicate their feelings and needs through spoken language in a manner that will create results. Creative Curriculum encourages children to expand their vocabulary through learning better skills in listening, speaking and especially reading. 

Teachers of the Creative Curriculum assess each child’s progress using a Developmental Continuum. Children develop at very different rates, therefore goals are set and progress can be assessed by monitoring a child’s ability to achieve each objective on the continuum. Using this continuum will allow teachers to identify specific areas where a child demonstrates giftedness while also helping them in areas where they may be lagging. We avoid the idea of basing success solely on the age of the class.

The Learning Environment
Each classroom will be arranged into 11 interest areas: Blocks, Dramatic Play, Toys and Games, Art, Library, Discovery, Sand and Water, Music and Movement, Cooking, Computers, and Outdoors. This gives children numerous options for making decisions on where and how they want to learn and explore. Children will be taught to respect their work area and take care of the materials in the classroom so that they will display pride in their work.

What Your Children Will Learn
Creative Curriculum and Wee Learn offers expanded opportunities for children to become familiar with topics that will be the foundation of the elementary school curriculum. The main topics that will be covered are Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, the Arts, Technology and Process Skills. It is very important to focus the content of the curriculum on each child’s developmental stage so that successful learners emerge excited and challenged by what they are learning.